The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-08

WASHINGTON, November 3.-An attempt
was made tonight either to kill or MAIN Chief
Justice Waite, of the United State supreme
court Tor perpetrate a silly hoax. About half
past six small box was sent to his house,
through the special delivery postal service. II
was a pastoboard box, about ten inches by six,
looking something like valentine box and was
addressed in small cramped and apparently
disguised back-hand writing:
To the Hon. Chief Justice Waite, 1i15 street N
W. Washington. d. c.
Near the bottom were the words Important
papers," UNDERSIGNED. The thing enclosed
was glass tube about ten
inches long and of the diameter
of lead pencil. The tube was bent at an
angle of about 60 degrees, and was fastened by
means of small pieces of heavy paper pasted
over it, The tube for most of its length con-
tanned jet black liquid, but about one and a
half inches from the end was q percussion cap
separating the fluid from little more than an
inch of coarse powder, apparently what is
known as atlas powder. AT the other end of
the powder was another percussion cap, and to
this was attached wire which
was apparently intended to explode
the tube This wire was joined to a
small rubber band fastened TO one side of the
box and another wire ran from the rubber to
"hook and eye which was held in place by
piece of paper pasted over it. If the machine
is really what it seems to be, the raising of the
lid would have exploded it. Before it reached
the Justices house, however, the box was
stamped on one side by the postotiice employees
and the force with which the blow was struck
in stamping caused the wire to slip through
the hook and eye, thus seyering the nee
eSSary connection. There are some cir
cumStanccs which lead to the suspicion
that whole thing is a hoax, The person
though whom the matter was brought to the
attention of the police is young man who
sells items to newspaper correspondents and
who is not by many regarded as trust worthy.
His name is withheld at the request of the
police, to whom he told substantially the fol-
lowing story:
About six o'clock he went to the postofice
to mail a letter and going to one of the desks
to address it, he notice al man putting
the address of Chief Justice Waite
on the package. He says he
thought nothing of it at the time and there
fore did not observe the man closely enough to
be able TO identify him. When in the street,
however, the thought came to him that there
was something suspicious about 1t, as the JUS
tiCe had, on Wednesday, delivered the opin-
ion denying the writ of error TO the condemned
Chicago anarchists. He, therefore, went to
the house of the chief justice and inquired of
him II lie had received the box. The chief
justice said he had not and the young
man went 70 the postoffce and ascertained
that the box had been delivered at $50
o'clock, lie next informed the correspondent Of
the Chicago Tribune and Cincinnati CONNER
cial-6iaZctte of the matter and offered to tell
them the story about it. The correspondents,
to make further investigation, and went to
the police station and told the story to Detoc-
tive Sergeant Hollanberger, who Immediately
called On the chief justice, who then ac-
knowlodged receiving the box and gave il 10
the sergeant.
The chief justice said he had received the
box while at dinner and had opened il. but
without being harmed. the wire which was to
have exploded il having been detached, as
already stated. Judge Waite did not attach
amy importance 20 the affair, and said lac
thought IL a sensational hoax. The sergeant
brought the box to police headquarters. where
IL Is now held rs evidence. Sergeant HOllan-
berger said he had 10 clue to the sender Of the
box and that the young man was unable TO
give any description Of the man whom he had
seen addressing it before mailing il.
WAsHINGroN, November 4.--Sherbuyne G.
Hopkins, the person through whom the police
indirectly learned last evening that the mystic